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On Track for Better Health Care for all Ontarians

McGuinty Government Launches 2011 Progress Report

July 22, 2011

News

Ontario is leading the country in reducing health care wait times, providing families with better access to care while helping children lead healthier, active lives.

That is just some of the good news on health care outlined in the 2011 Progress Report. The annual report shows the results Ontarians are achieving together.

A strong public health care system gives our families peace of mind. The McGuinty government is helping to improve the health of all Ontarians by:

• Helping 1.3 million more Ontarians find a family doctor since 2004.
• Creating 200 Family Health Teams serving almost 3 million Ontarians.
• Providing 90,000 more breast screening exams for women at risk.
• Expanding the Ontario Diabetes Strategy to improve health care for the 1.1 million Ontarians with diabetes.
• Lowering generic drug prices, with $500 million in savings reinvested into better care.
• Covering five new vaccines — protecting our children and saving families about $1,400 per child.
• Improving mental health support for 50,000 children and their families with quicker and easier access.

Ontario is also the first Canadian province to introduce nurse practitioner-led clinics in our communities, which helps our families receive care more quickly closer to home. The McGuinty government is responding to the growing health care needs of families today while seizing more opportunities to prevent illness tomorrow.

QUOTES

"Ontario is recognized as having one of the best health care systems in the world. It’s helping our families stay healthy and get the care they need when they’re sick. We will continue working together to find ways to improve the care that our families need."
— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

QUICK FACTS

• The 2011 Wait Times Alliance report showed that Ontario had shortest total wait times in Canada for the 4th year in a row.
• Since 2005, Ontario’s wait times are down 25 days (more than 30 per cent) for cancer surgery, 48 days (59.3 per cent) for CT scans, 216 days (49.1 per cent) for knew replacement surgery, 157 days (44.7 per cent) for hip replacement surgery, and 196 days (63 per cent) for cataract surgery.
• Healthy Smiles Ontario provides dental care to 130,000 low-income children and youth 17 and under.
• The percentage of Ontarians who smoke decreased from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 18.6 per cent in 2009.

LEARN MORE

Search for health care wait times here.

Find out what kind of care is available where you live.

Members of the media :

Neala Barton, 416-327-4388
Minister's Office

Andrew Morrison, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news